You're listening to mix one oh four point nine three point sixty now. As we know, tomorrow will mark a day of national observance to remember the day exactly eighty years ago when World War II forced itself onto Australia's mainland for the first time. The Darwin community will gather to pay their respects to the men and women who fought during the war or during the Darwin air raids, and the community who survived at the annual Bombing of Darwin commemoration service. Just before ten am on the nineteenth of February nineteen forty two, a formation of one hundred and eighty eight Japanese aircraft mounted a deadly air raid on Darwin and the sound of whistling bombs rang in the years of Allied troops and civilians. Life for the people of Darwin would never be the same. We'd suffered the largest single attack ever on Australian soil and its impact is still felt eighty years later. Now. One of the last surviving veterans who was in Darwin during the bombing will attend the service tomorrow. His name is Brian Winspear. He is one hundred and one years old and he joined me in the studio a little bit earlier this morning.

You're listening to mix one oh four point nine three point sixty now. As we know, tomorrow will mark a day of national observance to remember the day exactly eighty years ago when World War II forced itself onto Australia's mainland for the first time. The Darwin community will gather to pay their respects to the men and women who fought during the war or during the Darwin air raids, and the community who survived at the annual Bombing of Darwin commemoration service. Just before ten am on the nineteenth of February nineteen forty two, a formation of one hundred and eighty eight Japanese aircraft mounted a deadly air raid on Darwin and the sound of whistling bombs rang in the years of Allied troops and civilians. Life for the people of Darwin would never be the same. We'd suffered the largest single attack ever on Australian soil and its impact is still felt eighty years later. Now. One of the last surviving veterans who was in Darwin during the bombing will attend the service tomorrow. His name is Brian Winspear. He is one hundred and one years old and he joined me in the studio a little bit earlier this morning.

Good morning to you, Brian, Good morning Kate. Lovely to have you in the studio.

Good morning to you, Brian, Good morning Kate. Lovely to have you in the studio.

Brian.

Brian.

Tell us a little bit about what it was like for you on that day.

Tell us a little bit about what it was like for you on that day.

Well, you've got to bear in mind that I joined the Air Force at nineteen and by the time I got to Darwen, I was only twenty twenty twenty one, and so that was all fairly new and strange and so on. But yeah, after we finished the training, I was supposted to two squadron locked Hudson's and at the time we had twelve locked Hudson's to a squad udron and and we're at Leveton and they decided that we should go to down because there's a bit of a war brewing, and and so the whole squadron part of Melbourne to go down and flying over Lake Air out of radio opera done playing with the radio, I heard that Pearl Harbor had been bombed, And when we landed for few Hell the Springs, I told the other cruising in the twelve planes, and no one would bloome me that that it was on. So when we got to dow and it was it was that out we had to want to They all built up ammunition and it was my first taste of tropical tropical climate and all I wanted to do was to have a cold sharer and go to bed Tenerators all followed on from there and then our squadron was had that then have to go to West Temor because we had uh the powers of the being, the bee that organized what who goes where, decided that that in Tasmania we had the second fortieth Army group and they had to go to Kopang in West Timor to look after because there's one thousand Tasmania there in the army to stop the jets coming as far as as Darwin and what happened after after that year.

Well, you've got to bear in mind that I joined the Air Force at nineteen and by the time I got to Darwen, I was only twenty twenty twenty one, and so that was all fairly new and strange and so on. But yeah, after we finished the training, I was supposted to two squadron locked Hudson's and at the time we had twelve locked Hudson's to a squad udron and and we're at Leveton and they decided that we should go to down because there's a bit of a war brewing, and and so the whole squadron part of Melbourne to go down and flying over Lake Air out of radio opera done playing with the radio, I heard that Pearl Harbor had been bombed, And when we landed for few Hell the Springs, I told the other cruising in the twelve planes, and no one would bloome me that that it was on. So when we got to dow and it was it was that out we had to want to They all built up ammunition and it was my first taste of tropical tropical climate and all I wanted to do was to have a cold sharer and go to bed Tenerators all followed on from there and then our squadron was had that then have to go to West Temor because we had uh the powers of the being, the bee that organized what who goes where, decided that that in Tasmania we had the second fortieth Army group and they had to go to Kopang in West Timor to look after because there's one thousand Tasmania there in the army to stop the jets coming as far as as Darwin and what happened after after that year.

And so Brian were you were you always supposed to be in Darwin at the time when that bombing occurred.

And so Brian were you were you always supposed to be in Darwin at the time when that bombing occurred.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it was our job. Yeah, two two squads, three lo Huchins had to had to be air cover for the the thousand Tasmanians there and and Australia didn't have any fighters and Locky Hudson's are not fighters anyway, but we had to go through the motions of patrolling the guys and trying to find the Japanese Asian fashion.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, it was our job. Yeah, two two squads, three lo Huchins had to had to be air cover for the the thousand Tasmanians there and and Australia didn't have any fighters and Locky Hudson's are not fighters anyway, but we had to go through the motions of patrolling the guys and trying to find the Japanese Asian fashion.

Brian, you'd said that you worked, you know, you worked in radio, like you had the radio side of things. So you'd listened and you'd heard what had happened in Pearl Harbor.

Brian, you'd said that you worked, you know, you worked in radio, like you had the radio side of things. So you'd listened and you'd heard what had happened in Pearl Harbor.

Could you did you ever.

Could you did you ever.

Anticipate that what would happen in Darwin was going to unfold?

Anticipate that what would happen in Darwin was going to unfold?

That was incredible because if you follow the history, Yeah, Pearl Harbor was on the day that Trove Harbor was December the twelfth, was I think, yeah, Well, you know they were the japan Japan started heading south and and and and polishing off every country they went into and until they got it on. It took them two months to to get there. And in the meantime, we had a couple of Australia had a couple of second rate fighter squadrons in Malaysia and and team all those sort of places. And uh, I've got a he had at one hundred and one. I've got to I've got to give my brain a.

That was incredible because if you follow the history, Yeah, Pearl Harbor was on the day that Trove Harbor was December the twelfth, was I think, yeah, Well, you know they were the japan Japan started heading south and and and and polishing off every country they went into and until they got it on. It took them two months to to get there. And in the meantime, we had a couple of Australia had a couple of second rate fighter squadrons in Malaysia and and team all those sort of places. And uh, I've got a he had at one hundred and one. I've got to I've got to give my brain a.

Bit of Brian. That's okay, we don't mind.

Bit of Brian. That's okay, we don't mind.

You know, I think most people listening to you this morning will be absolutely you know, have so much respect and so much pride listening to you this morning, So we don't mind if you need a moment, mate.

You know, I think most people listening to you this morning will be absolutely you know, have so much respect and so much pride listening to you this morning, So we don't mind if you need a moment, mate.

You know, for so many of us who live in Darwin now, we just have.

You know, for so many of us who live in Darwin now, we just have.

Absolutely no idea what it would have been like to be here and to see those bombs raining down. I had read somewhere that you described it as saying that you looked up and the sun glinted, and the bombs looked as they were falling down. They just looked like confetti. It must have been just an unbelievable thing to see happening.

Absolutely no idea what it would have been like to be here and to see those bombs raining down. I had read somewhere that you described it as saying that you looked up and the sun glinted, and the bombs looked as they were falling down. They just looked like confetti. It must have been just an unbelievable thing to see happening.

Yeah, well, there were thousands and thousands of bombs all come at the same time, and everybody saw the fifty four planes coming in, and because they're coming from the south, they thought they were the Americans coming. But the Japs always do that, they sort of fly around the target and the aways come in the back door. Yeah, they did exactly the same thing when they were when they were invoding, a team or Kopang had six inch guns or facing out to see whether they thought that the japri going to come. And the came in and came came and landed on a beach at the back and then rode bikes and walked in. It came in in the back door, so.

Yeah, well, there were thousands and thousands of bombs all come at the same time, and everybody saw the fifty four planes coming in, and because they're coming from the south, they thought they were the Americans coming. But the Japs always do that, they sort of fly around the target and the aways come in the back door. Yeah, they did exactly the same thing when they were when they were invoding, a team or Kopang had six inch guns or facing out to see whether they thought that the japri going to come. And the came in and came came and landed on a beach at the back and then rode bikes and walked in. It came in in the back door, so.

It is it's unbelievable, you know, to think of what happened here in Dahlwa. My grandfather worked in logistics at the time and he was stationed here. He was only seventeen when he was first in dar when he was here when Darwin was bombed. And I think that it's such an important thing for all Australians to actually understand what happened eighty years ago right here in the Northern territory.

It is it's unbelievable, you know, to think of what happened here in Dahlwa. My grandfather worked in logistics at the time and he was stationed here. He was only seventeen when he was first in dar when he was here when Darwin was bombed. And I think that it's such an important thing for all Australians to actually understand what happened eighty years ago right here in the Northern territory.

Yeah. Yeah, Well, one of the sad things was that absolutely no new came out from Darwin for about six or eight months at that time because all the pol pariticians had egg on their face because we had basically no army. All our divisions were in the Mediterranean and and our front line aircraft was only two squadrons of like Ed Hudson's and and the navy was almost you know finished, and and and it's sad that that no news ever came out. And being in the front line up there, we didn't know what was going on either because our war was being controlled, our air force war was being controlled in an office in sin Kettled Road in Melbourne, and they didn't sort of forget the feel of what was going on.

Yeah. Yeah, Well, one of the sad things was that absolutely no new came out from Darwin for about six or eight months at that time because all the pol pariticians had egg on their face because we had basically no army. All our divisions were in the Mediterranean and and our front line aircraft was only two squadrons of like Ed Hudson's and and the navy was almost you know finished, and and and it's sad that that no news ever came out. And being in the front line up there, we didn't know what was going on either because our war was being controlled, our air force war was being controlled in an office in sin Kettled Road in Melbourne, and they didn't sort of forget the feel of what was going on.

It's really happening.

It's really happening.

Can you tell me what was it like looking around Darwin after after we'd been bombed, you know for us here now, I know you've been back to Darwin on so many occasions. When you walk around town now and then when you remember what it was like eighty years ago and how the place looked after it had been bombed, what was it.

Can you tell me what was it like looking around Darwin after after we'd been bombed, you know for us here now, I know you've been back to Darwin on so many occasions. When you walk around town now and then when you remember what it was like eighty years ago and how the place looked after it had been bombed, what was it.

Like, Well, it was in another another world because Darwin had ceased to exist just about after that bombing. Between the bombing and the and the strong Wednesday, you get it. It was amazing. I was absolutely amazed at the development of Darwin and how it's grown up into it's trying to take over Sydney. In Melbourne and the high risis, I just shuddered to think of another cyclone came along. Most of those highs rods had finished up in the bay.

Like, Well, it was in another another world because Darwin had ceased to exist just about after that bombing. Between the bombing and the and the strong Wednesday, you get it. It was amazing. I was absolutely amazed at the development of Darwin and how it's grown up into it's trying to take over Sydney. In Melbourne and the high risis, I just shuddered to think of another cyclone came along. Most of those highs rods had finished up in the bay.

Oh we worry about that. Lucky they got those building codes. Brian, we are going to have to wrap up. Brian, tell us why tomorrow is such an important day for all It'sustralians to really sit back and remember what happened to Darwin eighty years ago.

Oh we worry about that. Lucky they got those building codes. Brian, we are going to have to wrap up. Brian, tell us why tomorrow is such an important day for all It'sustralians to really sit back and remember what happened to Darwin eighty years ago.

Yeah, well I've been I've been spooking for yeah, eighty odd years to try and get the message over my own messages and never never forget to remember. And the trouble as they don't one of their big problems with the There we were with Lockied Hudson's looking after the second fortieth Tazzies, the thousand of them, and they only had a brandy on carry her and a few rifles and had had nothing to really take the you know, the jeps on. And then when the Japanese looked like getting down to Dow and they decided that they were going to pull the aircraft out because they were over overtaken by the Japs anyway. And one of the hard things in my life was that I knew a lot of the ten thousand tatty. I went to school with a lot of them, and we did a lot of flying beers whtween Darwin and Copeng, and I used to take milk and ten nugget and beer and all the things that they're short of. Yeah, but the worst thing in my life was that we had orders to live Copeng and we just walked away from a thousand tatsies and and I knew that. In fact, half a half that thousand were even killed or taken prisoner of war. And the ones that were taken a prisoners of war, they were put put on a Japanese boat to go to Tokyo to work in the in the mines and sailing in up near Tea Moor. An American plane came along and struck them and tor peed. The shepherd had killed all their killed all their pow. A few of them swamm and he got away. But it was a pretty deadly time of the year. And it's always all those features have always been tattooed onto my brain and I keep, I keep, you know, remembering them all the time. And at home, I've got a list of all their names of the people that were killed there, and the list is nine feet long. And the sad thing is that everyone these days, in those days, everyone that got killed, it disrupted their family completely because they all had mothers and fathers, and they had girlfriends. And it not only killed the person, but who killed their family as well.

Yeah, well I've been I've been spooking for yeah, eighty odd years to try and get the message over my own messages and never never forget to remember. And the trouble as they don't one of their big problems with the There we were with Lockied Hudson's looking after the second fortieth Tazzies, the thousand of them, and they only had a brandy on carry her and a few rifles and had had nothing to really take the you know, the jeps on. And then when the Japanese looked like getting down to Dow and they decided that they were going to pull the aircraft out because they were over overtaken by the Japs anyway. And one of the hard things in my life was that I knew a lot of the ten thousand tatty. I went to school with a lot of them, and we did a lot of flying beers whtween Darwin and Copeng, and I used to take milk and ten nugget and beer and all the things that they're short of. Yeah, but the worst thing in my life was that we had orders to live Copeng and we just walked away from a thousand tatsies and and I knew that. In fact, half a half that thousand were even killed or taken prisoner of war. And the ones that were taken a prisoners of war, they were put put on a Japanese boat to go to Tokyo to work in the in the mines and sailing in up near Tea Moor. An American plane came along and struck them and tor peed. The shepherd had killed all their killed all their pow. A few of them swamm and he got away. But it was a pretty deadly time of the year. And it's always all those features have always been tattooed onto my brain and I keep, I keep, you know, remembering them all the time. And at home, I've got a list of all their names of the people that were killed there, and the list is nine feet long. And the sad thing is that everyone these days, in those days, everyone that got killed, it disrupted their family completely because they all had mothers and fathers, and they had girlfriends. And it not only killed the person, but who killed their family as well.

Yeah, life would never be the same for so many Australians. Brian, I can't thank you enough for coming in and seeing us this morning. I know it must be difficult for you to talk about and remember, you know, such a such a terribly hard time, but I am so grateful that you've come in and have a chat to me this morning.

Yeah, life would never be the same for so many Australians. Brian, I can't thank you enough for coming in and seeing us this morning. I know it must be difficult for you to talk about and remember, you know, such a such a terribly hard time, but I am so grateful that you've come in and have a chat to me this morning.

Yeah, well, Kate, this, this this weekend is the most memorable event of my whole life. It even takes over being in a in a cockpit of a cockpit of a fast aircraft and all the other exciting things that yeah, yes, sorry, yeah, I sat in the front of a concord while it was learning learning in the Bahrain, and that was one of the terrific experience. But this week weekend, yesterday we had that there was nearly one hundred people out of the museum and everyone was talking, was being interviewed on looking at some of those beautiful planes there. It's a mighty place anyway, very much, thanks for taking your time.

Yeah, well, Kate, this, this this weekend is the most memorable event of my whole life. It even takes over being in a in a cockpit of a cockpit of a fast aircraft and all the other exciting things that yeah, yes, sorry, yeah, I sat in the front of a concord while it was learning learning in the Bahrain, and that was one of the terrific experience. But this week weekend, yesterday we had that there was nearly one hundred people out of the museum and everyone was talking, was being interviewed on looking at some of those beautiful planes there. It's a mighty place anyway, very much, thanks for taking your time.

Thank you so much, and I think that everybody listening this morning is going to be feeling very humbled listening to your story. So Brian Winsby, thank you so very much for having a chat with us today.

Thank you so much, and I think that everybody listening this morning is going to be feeling very humbled listening to your story. So Brian Winsby, thank you so very much for having a chat with us today.

Okay, thanks, thank you.

Okay, thanks, thank you.

Thank you. You are listening to Mix one oh four point nine's three sixty

Thank you. You are listening to Mix one oh four point nine's three sixty